People are taking a patchwork approach to self-expression to feel like they have control over how their identity is generated. Yet as individual expression becomes more mutable and mistrust in social systems abounds, there’s one place above all that people are seeking integrity and guidance: brands.

Augmented reality offers huge potential for brands to integrate their products with consumers’ drive to blend their physical and digital selves. Yet brand adoption of AR remains low. What are the drivers feeding consumer engagement with AR and how can it be better adopted by brands?

With growing disposable income, tweens and teens use shopping as a means of expressing their independence. Offering inexpensive items in visually stimulating one-stop shops all over the country, Five Below caters to young shoppers with thrifty and energetic sensibilities.

AR filters on social media have become the most widespread form of AR technology, and are being primarily used by Gen Zers getting creative with their appearance and identities. What can the use of these filters tell us about how technology changes the ways we form identities and relate to others?

Ahead of the 2021 holiday season, YouTube is launching a livestream event to position the platform as a shopping destination. Social media shopping has not taken off in the US as it has done in China, but YouTube’s celebrity-driven shopping event may be a sign that this is changing.